ICMS/EMS Postgraduate Courses
February - May 2002
Wednesday 8 May 2002, from 1430
Maths Dept, Livingstone Tower, University of Strathclyde,
26 Richmond Street, Glasgow G1
Talks will be held in L8.31 (level 8). Tea will be in L9.20
The link for a map is: http://www.strath.ac.uk/maps/livingstone.htm
| 1430 - 1600 | Roger Fletcher
Nonlinear Systems and Optimization . |
| 1600 - 1630 | Tea |
| 1630 - 1750 | Andrew Lacey , Heriot
Watt Qualitative Behaviour for Partial Differential Equations. |
ABSTRACTS
Roger Fletcher
Nonlinear Systems and Optimization
Most applied mathematicians need to solve nonlinear algebraic systems or optimization (variational) problems at some time in their career. Yet knowledge of modern techniques and how to access them is often sketchy. A summary of the main features of the subject will be presented.
- Linear systems and systems with finite termination
- Nonlinear systems and Optimization
- Newton-Raphson method for systems
- Lagrange multipliers and their significance
- Sequential Quadratic Programming (SQP)
- Very large systems
- Discrete variables
- Optimization modelling languages
Andrew Lacey
Qualitative Behaviour for Partial Differential Equations
This lecture will look at a variety of qualitative features exhibited by different types of PDE. These include shock formation by solutions of nonlinear first-order hyperbolic equations and smoothing properties of parabolic problems. The role of specific terms in some equations, such as the promotion of 'blow-up' by some reaction terms, will also be highlighted. The consequences for certain models, e.g. simple models for traffic flow or heat equations, will be examined.
Geometry and Topology
Wednesday17 April 2002, from 1430 ICMS, 14 India Street, Edinburgh EH3 6EZ
| 1430 - 1515 | Elmer Rees, Edinburgh
Introduction to Symplectic Geometry. |
| 1515 - 1545 | Tea |
| 1545 - 1630 | Bernd Schroers, Heriot
Watt The role of symmetry in classical and quantum mechanics. |
| 1640 - 1725 | Sergei Merkulov,
Glasgow Deformation quantisation and Kontsevich's formality theorem. |
ABSTRACTS
The theme of the lectures will be Symplectic Geometry. It is an old topic with its roots in classical mechanics but in recent years it has become increasingly useful in several other areas of mathematics. Topics in which it is used include partial differential equations, spectra of matrices and quantum mechanics.
Elmer Rees, Edinburgh
Introduction to Symplectic Geometry .
Manifolds and their cotangent bundles. Lie groups, left invariant forms. Symplectic structures. Symplectic quotients, moment maps and convexity. Application to the study of the spectra of n X n Hermitian matrices (including Atiyah's theorem).
Bernd Schroers, Heriot Watt
The role of symmetry in classical and quantum mechanics.
Symmetries are of great practical importance in both classical and quantum mechanical problems. They also provide structural guidance in the transition from classical to quantum mechanics. In the lecture I will illustrate these statements with a simple but surprisingly rich example: the Kepler problem (motion of a massive particle in a 1/r-potential). Topics to be covered: symmetries and conservation laws, dynamical symmetries, reduction and enlargement of phase space.
Sergei Merkulov, Glasgow
Deformation quantisation and Kontsevich's formality theorem.
We discuss some of the basic ideas behind Kontsevich's celebrated formality theorem and discuss its application to the deformation quantisation on Poisson manifolds.
Applied Analysis/Dynamical Systems
Wednesday 20 March 2002, from 1430 ICMS, 14 India Street, Edinburgh EH3 6EZ
| 1430 - 1545 | Periodic Solutions of Scalar Equations - Jack Carr |
| 1545 - 1615 | Tea |
| 1615 - 1730 | Circle Maps - Sandy Davie |
ABSTRACTS
Periodic Solutions of Scalar Equations (Jack Carr)
The main aim of this lecture will be to present some of the ideas of dynamical systems in a simple setting. The problem we will study is the scalar ordinary differential equation x'(t) = g(x) + f(t)
with f(t) a periodic function. Some of the concepts we will explore are Poincaré maps, bifurcation of periodic solutions, stability, and variational equations.
Circle Maps (Sandy Davie)
This lecture will consider the dynamics of mappings of the circle to itself. Such mappings occur frequently in the study of dynamical systems. Understanding circle maps requires methods of topology, number theory and analysis as well as numerical calculations. The lecture will describe how circle maps can arise in practice and illustrate some of the methods used in their study.
Tools of the Trade: A Practical Guide to Postgraduate Study
Wednesday 27 February 2002, from 1430 ICMS, 14 India Street, Edinburgh EH3 6EZ
| 1430-1500 | How to get a PhD - Jack Carr - Click here for the abstract |
| 1500-1530 | Elements of report/paper writing - Penny Davies |
| 1530-1600 | Latex for reports and
presentations - David Griffiths Click here for the PostScript and LaTeX source files for the talk. |
| 1600-1630 | Tea |
| 1630-1700 | Mathematical/bibliographical software - Dugald Duncan |
| 1700-1715 | What happens in a PhD oral - Alastair Gillespie |
| 1715-1745 | What industry wants from mathematicians - Paul Moseley |
| 1745-1900 | Informal discussion and drinks |